Wilhelm ulrich



Nu. 6l4,635. Patented Nov. 22, I898. W. ULRICH.

SMOKELESS POW-DER CARTRIDGE.

(Application filed May 14, 189B.)

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(Nu Modal.)

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UNITED STATES WILIIELM ULRICH, OF ESSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO FRIED.KRUPP, OF SAME PLACE.

SMOKELESS-POWDER CARTRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,635, dated November22, 1898.

Application filed May 14, 1898. Serial No. 680,673. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILHELM ULRICH, a citizen of the German Empire,residing at Essen, Germany, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Smokeless-Powder Cartridges, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention has reference to improvements in smokeless-powdercartridges; and it consists, essentially, in a cartridge formed of ashell, a series of elastic concavo-convex annular disks made ofsmokeless powder stacked therein in pairs, the concave sides of eachpair facing each other, and a cap adapted to press the disks together,so as to prevent loosening of the charge.

The forms in which smokeless powder has hitherto been used forcartridges make it almost impossible to always so fill the cartridgethat the powder is firmly held therein. For firmly packing the powderspecial means have been used, such as placing the same into bags, firmlytying the same, or by pressing the charge against the bottom of theshell by corks or separate covers, &c. Without such means tubular powderwould only be firmly held if thetubes were of the exact length of theshell and of a diameter exactly proportioned to the caliber. Powder inthe form of spirals made from sheets (spiralites) or folded in the formof stars, &c., must be cut exactly to'the length of the cartridge shell.Nevertheless it has been found that when transported the several formsof powder just mentioned work loose, because all smokeless powder in thecourse of time shrinks by drying. The present shape of the particles ofpowder and the mode of arranging and holding the same within the shellnot only overcome the difficulties mentioned, but also. have theadvantage over all the charges hitherto known of causing anexceedingly-rapid transmission of the fire from the primerto the entiresurfaces of all the individual powder disks.

The nature of my invention will best be understood when described inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 representsa longitudinal section of a cartridge embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa cross-section of the same.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutboth views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the letter Adesignates the cartridge-shell,and b and b the powder disks. These disks are made in annularconcavo-convex form, and the outer diameter of said disks is bypreference such that it will closely fit the shell. This, however, isnot absolutely necessary for firmly holding the charge. The number ofsuch annular disks required is placed within the shell in pairs, theconcave sides of each pair facing each other. By this means a column ofpowder is formed which in the direction of the length of the cartridgepossesses a certain degree of elasticity. This column of powder disks isslightly compressed by a-brass cap 0, whereby the charge is so held thateven by heavy jars it is not loosened. A further ad vantage of this newform and arrangement of the powder disks consists in the facilitypresented by the central passage for the free and rapid communication ofthe fire from the primer d to the surfaces of all the powder disks.

It is of course to be understood that the concavo-convex form of thedisks need not be exactly that shown in the drawings and that any othersuitable means for compress= ing the stack of disks may be used in placeof the cap 0.

By the use .of the disks herein described, combined with means forcompressing the same, shrinkagecaused by drying will be taken up by theelasticity of the disks, and the charge will not work loose.

What I claim as new isl. A cartridge consisting of a shell, a series ofannular concave-convex disks of smokeless powder substantially of thediameter of the shell stacked in pairs within the shell so as to leave acentral longitudinal passage, the

concave sides of each pair facing each other,

and means for compressing the disks, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

2. A cartridge consisting of a shell, a series of annular concave-convexdisks of smokeless powder substantially of the diameter of the shellstacked in pairs Within the shell so as to. leave a central longitudinalpassage, the concave sides of each pair facing each other, and a capadapted to press and hold the disks against the bottom of the shell,substantially 10 as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILHELM ULRICH.

Witnessesi J OH. BECKER, WILLIAM ESSENWEIN.

